It’s been an amazing week for Panthers 20 year old top line center Aleksander Barkov or as he likes to be called Sasha Barkov. Despite his team being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday he had two more big things happen. Both of them were good. On Tuesday, he was named a candidate for NHL17 Cover which sadly unless I get an Xbox One for Christmas I probably won’t be able to get. I have an Xbox 360. However Barkov is up against Big Man Jamie Benn from Dallas. Barkov is representing Team Finland from the World Cup of Hockey in his bid for the cover. Benn is representing Team Canada. As of Thursday Morning Benn is leading but this might give Barky a boost to get past Benn. On Saturday he was named a finalist for The Lady Byng Trophy which is given to the most sportsmanlike player in the NHL. Barkov has the fewest PIMs of the finalists. Those names are Loui Eriksson and Anze Kopitar. According to Cats on the Prowl another great Panthers blog; if Barkov were to win the Lady Byng Trophy he would be the second youngest winner at age 20 to Wayne Gretzky who won it at 19. Good company for him. So good luck Sasha.